Music

I was talking to Wanda the other day, about our proposed family newsletter.  In the course of that conversation we meandered through the maze of memories and family history.  She shared the desire to have more memories from Rich and me and something that had been discussed in her Institute class about thematic memories for sharing and passing on those memories.

I have found myself thinking about that conversation over and over and wondering how I might do that considering my limited tech expertise.  I thought about the beautiful job that Kathryn, Mike's mom, has done in creating DVDs with music and photos for their children...that's waaaaaayyyy out of my realm of expertise.  Lol. I have wondered how I can capture the essence of memories of my and our lives and know that it has to be within my realm of capability.  I have finally decided that it would be wonderful if I could learn how to do what I envision...but that may or may not happen...but at least I can write those memories down.  So, I've decided that for a few posts I will be addressing the theme of music.

My earliest memories of music are the lullabies that my mother would sing and hum to me and my brothers.  I have no actual recollection of anything specific but I remember the peace and love and security I felt...even when I was 12 and 13 and she would rock Chad.  It's interesting to me that I'm pretty sure her touch and voice were soothing to Chad...but they were particularly soothing to me.   

However, I remember that Mom used to share that Chad, as he got older, would ask her NOT to sing.  In some way I think she thought it might be a repudiation of the quality of her voice...but I always found her voice beautiful.  She usually sang second soprano or alto in a group, but she always had a clear and lovely toned melody.  I also remember that Mom played with us and sang the nursery rhymes of babyhood...things like "Wee Willie Winkie," "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," or "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and the childhood songs of "Jumbo Elephant," "Ten Little Indians," or "The Crocodile Song."  The power of her example and the feelings that I had as I watched and participated in her efforts definitely had an influence in my efforts as a young mother and even as a grandmother.

Being the oldest child, my musical exposure as a child was mostly informed by my parents and the things that they listened to, at least until my teens.  My parents had a "stereo" and I grew up listening to the music of "Oklahoma," The King and I," "South Pacific," "State Fair," "Carousel," "My Fair Lady," "Show Boat," and "Singing in the Rain."  In fact, friends across the street, Sherry and Vicki Stephens, would come over to my home and we would "choreograph" dances to the music and put on shows for other neighborhood kids with the front room window being our "screen" to our stage in the living room.  I know...it was probably pretty bizarre...however, these are the same friends that I used to ride my bicycle with...with strips of diapers braided into 40" braids bobby pinned to our hair as we pretended to be riding horses as cowgirls! Lol

My father also loved music...although I don't really ever recall him singing.  However, he was often heard whistling, and he was really, really good at it.  One of his favorite songs to whistle was "Itsy, Bitsy, Teeny, Weeny, Yellow Polka Dot Bikini."  Lol.  I still smile at the memory.

In my early teens I remember Dad coming home and telling Mom he wanted her to write down some lyrics and try to write the tune to a song that he thought could be a great hit.  He then whistled the tune for Mom and we all started to giggle...it was already a very popular tune!  "Downtown" sung by Petula Clark and heard on the radio every hour!